China | Little Door Gods | Film | Asia Society Skip to main content
  • Back to asiasociety.org
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Global Live Webcasts
    • Asia Briefing LIVE
    • Executive Briefings
    • Arts, Culture and Diversity
  • Initiatives
    • Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia
    • Asia Taskforce
    • Viet Nam Report
    • Distinguished Fellowships
    • Scholar-In-Residence
    • Gen A
    • Culture Club
  • Disruptive Asia
  • News and Analysis
    • Latest News and Analysis
    • Briefing MONTHLY
    • Looking Ahead
    • Webcasts and Videos
    • Asia Briefing UNWIRED
  • Members
    • Become a Member
    • Our Members
  • Partners
    • Our Partners
  • Support Us
    • Support Asia Society Australia
    • Donate now
    • Planned giving
  • About
    • About Asia Society Australia
    • Our Programs
    • Our People
    • Our Board and Advisory Council
    • Careers and Internships
    • Contact Us
Australia
Search
asiasociety.org
Australia
Search
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Global Live Webcasts
    • Asia Briefing LIVE
    • Executive Briefings
    • Arts, Culture and Diversity
  • Initiatives
    • Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia
    • Asia Taskforce
    • Viet Nam Report
    • Distinguished Fellowships
    • Scholar-In-Residence
    • Gen A
    • Culture Club
  • Disruptive Asia
  • News and Analysis
    • Latest News and Analysis
    • Briefing MONTHLY
    • Looking Ahead
    • Webcasts and Videos
    • Asia Briefing UNWIRED
  • Members
    • Become a Member
    • Our Members
  • Partners
    • Our Partners
  • Support Us
    • Support Asia Society Australia
    • Donate now
    • Planned giving
  • About
    • About Asia Society Australia
    • Our Programs
    • Our People
    • Our Board and Advisory Council
    • Careers and Internships
    • Contact Us

China | Little Door Gods | Film

Little Door Gods
May 1st, 2020

Little Door Gods 小门神

Linda Jaivin, writer and editor

I’m recommending an animated film from China that I subtitled and therefore know well. It’s called Little Door Gods 小门神 and is a commentary on how urbanisation and the pace of modern life in China has been at the expense of traditional spiritual beliefs and practices — all wrapped up in a fast-paced, extremely funny adventure story that also serves as a satirical commentary on neo-liberal metrics.

The basic premise is that 天, or Heaven, runs on the incense and spirit money that people burn at altars. But with people less and less attentive to worship, there’s less of that going around. Some of the gods are going to have to be laid off if they can’t make their quotas. One of the two Door Gods decides that people will start to worship the gods again if he releases a monster that will create havoc on earth, and the other, breaking all the rules about dealing directly with humans, pairs up with a little girl to stop him.

I realise that sounds quite mad, and it is, but in the best possible way. I’ve always wanted this film to get more attention. I love it. I’ve done a number for the company but it’s my favourite.


Details

Category: Film
Director: Wang Wei
Year: 2016
Rating: PG

Watch it on Netflix (under the title The Guardian Brothers)


Linda Jaivin

Linda Jaivin is an Australian writer, the author of eleven books (seven novels and four books of non-fiction including the Quarterly Essay 'Found in Translation: In Praise of a Plural World)', and a film translator (from Chinese). Her most recent books are The Empress Lover, published in April 2014 and the non-fiction Beijing, about the city and its history, published in 2014 as well.

She is also the co-editor of the China Story Yearbook, published by the Centre on China in the World at the Australian National University. Linda Jaivin lives in Sydney and is working on several new projects, including a new novel.

∨ Show More

The Asia Society Culture Club is your weekly dose of distraction. Bringing you the best recommendations of new and classic literature, films, tv, podcasts and more, from and on Asia. 

Drawing from a different country each week, the club is an opportunity to step outside your usual newsfeed and discover new and classic stories from across the region. Each week features a guest programmer, selected from our network of members, experts, staff and stakeholders.

Culture Club

  • VNWar Memorial sunshine crop
    series

    Vietnam | Remembering our Fallen Heroes | Book

    Victorian Multicultural Commission Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen shares a profoundly personal book exploring the moving stories of Australian soldiers and Vietnamese refugees.
  • Mr Sunshine
    series

    Korea | Mr. Sunshine | Television

    Yvonne Yoon-Hee Kim, Executive Director of Asia Society Korea Centre, shares an absorbing, award-winning historical romantic drama.
  • SOKOLA RIMBA film still
    series

    Indonesia | Sokola Rimba, Aruna & Her Palate, and Cahaya Dari Timur: Beta Maluku | Film

    Founder of the Makassar International Writers Festival Lily Yulianti Farid shares her favourite Indonesian cinema.
  • Kino 1
    series

    Russia | Kino | Music

    Asia Society Australia CEO Philipp Ivanov shares the moving tale of an era-defining Russian new wave band
  • The Lunchbox screenshot
    series

    India | The Lunchbox | Film

    Asia Society India Centre recommends a heartwarming romance starring a beloved icon of Indian cinema
We Know Asia,
Get to Know Us

Visit Us

  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas

Global Network

  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC

Resources

  • Arts
  • Asia Blog
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video

Shop

  • AsiaStore

Initiatives

  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Center for Global Education
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Learning Beyond School
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • Int'l Studies Schools Network
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit

About Asia Society

  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement

Connect

  • Email Signup
  • For the Media

©2021 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | About AsiaSociety.org | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC